Practice: A Red Wine Step by Step

For red wines, begin by assessing opacity and rim tone: a youthful deep red with purple rim versus a mature wine with brick rim tells you where in the lifecycle the wine sits. Near-black opacity with blue-red rim points to Syrah or Malbec; translucent cherry-red to Pinot Noir. On the nose, seek primary fruit — red or dark berries — and whether you sense earth, leather, or spice. Tannin structure on the palate is decisive: silky (Pinot Noir), sandy (young Nebbiolo), velvety maturity (Tempranillo). Alcohol, acidity, and balance between them speak to terroir and winemaker.